Carbohydrates are one of the main types of nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy and full of energy. They are found in many different foods and come in two main forms: simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starches and fibre).

What do Carbohydrates Do?

Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. When you eat foods with carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose (a type of sugar). This glucose is then used by your muscles and brain to keep you active and focused throughout the day.

Simple Carbohydrates

These are sugars found in foods like fruit, sweets, honey, and soft drinks. They provide a quick burst of energy but don’t keep you full for long. It’s important to limit foods with lots of added sugars because they don’t offer much nutritional value beyond energy.

Examples of simple carbs:

  • Soft drinks
  • Sweets
  • Honey
  • Fruits like apples and bananas

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are found in starchy foods like bread, rice, pasta, and vegetables. They provide energy more slowly and steadily, which helps you feel fuller for longer. They also often contain important nutrients like fibre, which helps your digestive system work well.

Examples of complex carbs:

  • Wholegrain bread
  • Potatoes
  • Pasta
  • Brown rice
  • Oats

Fibre

Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that your body cannot digest. Even though you don’t get energy from it, it’s still important because it helps move food through your digestive system and keeps everything working smoothly. Fibre is found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Tips and Tricks to Remember:

  • Simple carbohydrates = Quick energy, but they don’t keep you full.
  • Complex carbohydrates = Slow energy, keep you fuller for longer.
  • Fibre = Important for digestion, even though it doesn’t provide energy.

Questions on Carbohydrates

Easy Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. What is the main job of carbohydrates in the body?
  2. Name one food that is a source of simple carbohydrates.
  3. Which type of carbohydrate gives you quick energy?
  4. True or False: Fibre gives you lots of energy.
  5. Name one food that is a source of complex carbohydrates.
  6. What happens to carbohydrates when they are eaten?
  7. What is the type of sugar that your body makes from carbohydrates called?
  8. Name a food that contains fibre.
  9. True or False: Carbohydrates are important for energy.
  10. Name two types of carbohydrates.
  11. Is pasta an example of simple or complex carbohydrates?
  12. True or False: Fruit contains simple carbohydrates.
  13. What type of carbohydrate is found in bread?
  14. True or False: Carbohydrates help your brain function.
  15. Which type of carbohydrate keeps you full for longer?
  16. What food group do potatoes belong to?
  17. What is the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates?
  18. Name a vegetable that contains carbohydrates.
  19. What nutrient helps food move through your digestive system?
  20. True or False: You should avoid all carbohydrates to stay healthy.

Answers:

  1. To provide energy.
  2. Sweets or soft drinks.
  3. Simple carbohydrates.
  4. False.
  5. Wholegrain bread.
  6. They are broken down into glucose.
  7. Glucose.
  8. Vegetables or wholegrain foods.
  9. True.
  10. Simple and complex carbohydrates.
  11. Complex.
  12. True.
  13. Complex carbohydrates.
  14. True.
  15. Complex carbohydrates.
  16. Carbohydrates.
  17. Simple carbs provide quick energy; complex carbs provide long-lasting energy.
  18. Potatoes.
  19. Fibre.
  20. False.

Medium Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. What is the role of fibre in the body?
  2. How does your body use glucose?
  3. Name three foods that are good sources of complex carbohydrates.
  4. Explain why simple carbohydrates do not keep you full for long.
  5. Name a benefit of eating fibre-rich foods.
  6. Why is it important to eat complex carbohydrates before a long day at school?
  7. Name two foods that contain simple carbohydrates but are not healthy to eat too often.
  8. How are simple carbohydrates different from complex carbohydrates in terms of energy release?
  9. What happens if you eat too many foods with added sugar?
  10. What is a healthy snack that contains carbohydrates?
  11. How does fibre help your digestive system?
  12. Name a type of bread that is a good source of complex carbohydrates.
  13. How are carbohydrates related to brain function?
  14. Which carbohydrate is digested slower: simple or complex?
  15. What is the relationship between carbohydrates and exercise?
  16. Why are wholegrain foods better for your body than refined grains?
  17. Name a meal that would be a good source of carbohydrates for lunch.
  18. True or False: A balanced diet should include some carbohydrates.
  19. Why should you limit foods with lots of added sugars?
  20. What nutrient found in fruit helps with digestion but does not provide energy?

Answers:

  1. It helps with digestion.
  2. It provides energy to the body.
  3. Wholegrain bread, pasta, brown rice.
  4. They are digested quickly and don’t provide long-lasting energy.
  5. They help with digestion and keep you full longer.
  6. Complex carbohydrates provide steady energy throughout the day.
  7. Sweets and fizzy drinks.
  8. Simple carbs release energy quickly; complex carbs release it slowly.
  9. It can lead to weight gain and tooth decay.
  10. A banana or a slice of wholegrain toast.
  11. It helps food pass through the digestive system.
  12. Wholemeal bread.
  13. Carbohydrates provide energy that helps your brain work properly.
  14. Complex carbohydrates.
  15. Carbohydrates give you energy to stay active.
  16. They contain more fibre and nutrients.
  17. A sandwich with wholegrain bread and vegetables.
  18. True.
  19. They provide empty calories with little nutritional value.
  20. Fibre.

High Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. Explain the process of how the body converts carbohydrates into glucose.
  2. Why is fibre important even though it doesn’t provide energy?
  3. What is the glycemic index (GI) and how does it relate to carbohydrates?
  4. Compare and contrast the energy provided by simple and complex carbohydrates.
  5. Why do athletes often eat carbohydrate-rich meals before a game or event?
  6. How does eating too many refined carbohydrates affect your health?
  7. How do carbohydrates contribute to weight management?
  8. Why is it better to eat wholegrain pasta rather than regular pasta?
  9. Explain the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.
  10. How do complex carbohydrates help you focus better during the school day?
  11. Name three whole foods that contain both fibre and carbohydrates.
  12. Why do low-carbohydrate diets sometimes cause fatigue?
  13. How does the body store excess glucose from carbohydrates?
  14. What are the risks of not eating enough carbohydrates?
  15. How can fibre help reduce the risk of certain diseases?
  16. Explain the relationship between carbohydrates and insulin.
  17. What is the difference between insoluble and soluble fibre?
  18. Why are complex carbohydrates recommended for breakfast over simple carbohydrates?
  19. How do processed foods affect the quality of carbohydrates?
  20. What is the role of carbohydrates in muscle recovery?

Answers:

  1. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose during digestion, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.
  2. Fibre helps with digestion and prevents constipation.
  3. The GI measures how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels.
  4. Simple carbs provide a quick burst of energy, while complex carbs provide a slower, more lasting energy source.
  5. Carbohydrates give them long-lasting energy for performance.
  6. It can lead to weight gain and increased risk of heart disease.
  7. They provide energy but can also lead to weight gain if consumed in excess.
  8. Wholegrain pasta has more fibre and nutrients.
  9. Simple carbs cause quick spikes in blood sugar; complex carbs provide a steady release.
  10. They provide steady energy, helping the brain focus.
  11. Oats, brown rice, and wholegrain bread.
  12. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and without enough, the body tires.
  13. As glycogen in the liver and muscles.
  14. You may feel tired and weak, and your brain may not function as well.
  15. Fibre can help prevent heart disease and diabetes.
  16. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar by allowing glucose to enter cells for energy.
  17. Insoluble fibre helps move food through the digestive system; soluble fibre helps lower cholesterol.
  18. Complex carbs provide long-lasting energy throughout the day.
  19. They often remove fibre and essential nutrients.
  20. Carbohydrates help restore glycogen levels after exercise.

This explanation and set of questions are aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of carbohydrates for Key Stage 3 students.